How to Talk to Your Family About Rhinoplasty

If you have decided to have a rhinoplasty (informally known as a nose job), you would have already undergone a lot of decision making. You had to decide whether you were really unhappy enough with your appearance to go under the knife and that this was important enough for you to elect for surgery to fix it. You have had to find a good rhinoplasty surgeon whom you can trust to do the procedure, and you have had to adjust your expectations of what your new nose will look like and how you will feel.

Rhinoplasty surgery aims to make patients happy with their appearance. Unfortunately, though, unless you have been in an accident or your surgery is for medical reasons, such as sleep apnea, there is often a stigma that comes with getting a nose job.

While removing a scar or mole is seen as normal and is rarely frowned upon, removing a bump or bulbous tip on your nose can often be taken for vanity.

You already know all of this, though, and you may now be trying to figure out how to tell your parents, friends, and/or other close loved ones about your decision. For some people, the solution to this conundrum is not to tell them at all. For others, a white lie suffices. Some people just cannot stand hiding things from the people they are closest to.

Believe it or not, for most people, it is actually a combination of the three. You may say nothing at all to your coworkers and acquaintances who likely will not notice. Then you may tell some family members that you got the surgery to correct sleep apnea, and you’ll tell your closest friends and family members about your real reasoning because they’ll be the most likely to understand. Let’s go through how you can navigate each of these situations.

Mum’s the word

You will need to schedule some time off work to get the rhinoplasty procedure done. You can schedule this as vacation time and /or arrange to work remotely until you can take the bandages off and reveal your new nose. Most of the people in your day-to-day life who are not as close to may notice that something is different, but will find it hard to pinpoint exactly what.

You don’t owe any of these people an explanation, and they don’t need to know why you are suddenly more confident with your appearance. Let them chalk it up to a great vacation and a new diet plan.

Little white lies

Almost everyone has family members or friends who will just refuse to understand. These same people have no problem with you putting on makeup every day to change your appearance, but a surgical procedure to make you feel better about yourself is too much for them. Don’t blame them for being stuck in their ways, but you can work around this.

For these people, simply telling them that you are having corrective surgery to cure your sleep apnea or snoring. This may be considered acceptable and will avoid a lot of long, difficult conversations.

Tell the truth and be prepared to listen

If you feel the need to share your reasons for your rhinoplasty with your family, try to do it in a one-on-one setting. You may have to have the same conversation more than once, but it will be easier this way. Sit them down and tell them gently but honestly how you have felt about your nose your whole life, why you are getting the procedure, and what the results will look like.

They may surprise you with their understanding, or they may tell you all the reasons they think you are beautiful the way you are. Listen to them and keep an open mind, but know that they still love you, no matter what you do. This change is for you, not them.

If you have questions about nose problems or are interested in rhinoplasty make an appointment to see our rhinoplasty specialist.